ASLEF union members at three more train companies have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay.
The companies are are Chiltern Railways (92.1%), Northern (96.6%) and TransPennine Express (97.1%).
“Strikes are always the last resort,” said Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union. “But you can see from the votes – and the turnouts – just how angry our members are. These are the people who moved key workers and goods around the country during the pandemic – yet have not had a pay rise since 2019.
“With inflation running at north of 10% – and set to go much higher – several train companies are saying that they want their drivers to take a real terms pay cut. Their attitude is “suck it up” – and that stinks.
“We now have mandates at twelve companies. After our one-day strike on Saturday 13 August the Rail Delivery Group, the pressure group which represents the interests of the privatised train operating companies, asked for talks. Those talks were strained, but quite constructive. There were no concrete proposals but dialogue will, we hope, continue.
“That’s why we are calling on the companies to come to the table with a proper proposal to help our members, their drivers, buy this year what they could buy last year. That is the way to prevent another strike and all the disruption that causes. The ball is now firmly in the train companies’ court.”
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We want to give our people a pay rise, but to fund it unions must recognise that as an industry that has lost 20% of its revenue, we can either adapt or decline. “Instead of causing further disruption to passengers and businesses, we urge the Aslef leadership to continue talks so we can change our services to meet new travel patterns, improve punctuality and secure a bright, long-term future for our people.”
